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Y-SNP markers ZS252 and ZS261 are now available for testing at Family Tree DNA. These markers, along with others in ZS250-ZS263 range, were discovered on chromosome Y of a Finnish J-L816 person published by 1000 Genomes project. Subsequently, ZS261 was also found on chromosome Y of another J-L816 person published by Personal Genomes Project. To evaluate the phylogenetic importance of these SNPs, they need to be tested by members of each subgroup in our FTDNA project.

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) has added SNP markers L817, L818, L816 to their Haplogroup J tree. The broader J-P58 clade (earlier known as J1c3, J1e), has become J1a2b as per the current version of ISOGG tree. L817 was added as J1a2b3, L818 as J1a2b3a, and L816 as J1a2b3a1.

A descendant of a Syrian Jew (member of Y-DNA Haplogroup J project) has tested positively for SNP marker L817 but negatively for L818. Thus, a yet another level of our clade's phylogeny is now defined by its own SNP marker.

As the year draws to a close, we decided it's time to update our website based on the facts about our paternal lineage we have accumulated thus far, and some speculative hypotheses that arise from these facts.

A J1c3* kit tested positively for SNP markers L817 and L818 and negatively for L816. The kit in question has the following Y-STR results: DYS392=14, DYS439=12. The kit owner's earliest known paternal ancestor was from Germany; he reports no known Jewish or other Middle-Eastern ancestry. The kit in question is 19 steps away from the base haplotype based on more than sixty 67-marker tests that are confirmed or predicted to be L816+ (among the latter, the most remote ones are only 9 steps away from the base haplotype). Let me express our thanks to Don for ordering the tests!

The hypothesis that SNPs L816, L817 and L818 can provide the basis to strictly define our cluster as a subclade of Y-DNA haplogroup J1c3 has received new confirmation: two members of our FTDNA project tested positively for all of these SNPs.

In order to facilitate the study of male lineages that belong to J1c3* Yahya cluster we have launched the Bnei Yahya project at Family Tree DNA. All persons who tested at or transferred their Y-DNA results to Family Tree DNA, are predicted or confirmed to belong to Y-DNA haplogroup J1, and have DYS392~13 are encouraged to join the project.

L816, L817, and L818 have been made available for testing at Family Tree DNA. Persons whose STR haplotype is close to the modal haplotype of J1c3* Jewish Cluster A are encouraged to test for SNPs L816, L817, and L818. To order an SNP test, FTDNA customers need to select "Order Tests and Uprgrades" in My Account section at their My FTDNA page, go to "Order Advanced Tests", select "SNP" in the drop-down menu, and choose a particular SNP.